Chaplain’s Museum Displays Spiritual Legacy Of Civil War Soldiers

A wooded piece of land is tucked away from the tall buildings and busy sidewalks of main campus near the Hancock Welcome Center. Among the trees rests the Worley Prayer Chapel, a fountain, greenery, Montview Mansion and the old carriage house for the mansion which is now the National Civil War Chaplains Museum. 

The Chaplains Museum, founded in 2005, showcases the men and women who dedicated their lives to religious service during the American Civil War. It is the only museum in the country dedicated to remembering the chaplains, priests, rabbis and religious organizations who served in the Civil War.

“The emphasis is not on North versus South, not on political issues, but on the ministry of the Civil War chaplains to meet the spiritual needs of the men who served,” Director of Public History Initiatives Donna Donald said. 

Feb. 5, the History Department hosted a grand reopening hoping to draw a larger audience to the museum. The reopening featured five-minute tours that gave the visitors a glimpse at the new exhibits in the museum. 

There are six main exhibits in the museum: Shiloh Chapel, Miss Melanie’s Parlor, Called to Serve, Diversity in Service, Service to the Suffering and Service on the Battlefield. These exhibits recount stories of chaplains during the Civil War and the many ways they ministered to those who fought. They consist of religious publications, Civil War mourning materials, images, letters, belongings of chaplains, Bibles and other memorabilia.

The reopening hoped to continue the legacy of former Liberty professor Kenny Rowlette who helped found the museum in 2005 and died in 2018.

“There hasn’t been any full-time staff focused on the museum since Mr. Rowlette passed away,” Donald said. “Our goal is to try to remain true to his original vision.” 

Through the process of the reopening, many of the people involved said it was an honor for them to continue the Rowlette’s legacy. 

“I really wanted to encompass what he wanted and bring it back to the heart,” Delynn Burrel, a graduate student who interned at the museum said. “He put so much of his energy, heart and soul in here.” 

History students involved in the reopening were excited about the value the museum adds to their education experience. 

“It opens up a whole new aspect of the war.” Jenny Brani, a history student, said. “The fact that there were chaplains there to guide them was so good.” 

Students who wish to get involved can do so in many ways. The National Civil War Chaplains Museum provides CSER opportunities and student worker positions to allow students to get a taste of what it is like working in a museum. The museum will also be working with students to develop research projects related to chaplains in the Civil War. The museum’s collections also offer opportunities for research on hymnals, religious literature and correspondence of the period. For more information on working with the National Civil War Chaplains Museum, contact Professor Donna Donald at ddonald@liberty.edu.

For the hours of the National Civil War Chaplains Museum or for any additional information, contact by phone at (434)582-7090, by e-mail at chaplainsmuseum@liberty.edu or at their website at chaplainsmuseum.org.

Kristen Pace is a Feature Reporter.